Anchoring is not a stroke

Anchoring is not a stroke. It is a crutch, regardless whether stats show it…we are at point now where junior players are being taught anchor at outset – and that is fundamentally wrong.

Here is my solution:

USGA and R&A carries forward with anchoring ban, effective 2016.

However, one major concession…allow current (2016) PGA Tour and Champions Tour pros to use anchoring for remainder of professional playing career (be grandfathered in) – so this would neutralize any argument of Rule serving to take away livelihood and something that has been in use for 20-30 years (keep the Tim Clarks at bay)…only downside to this is it perhaps create stigma to those pros who continue to use it (ie those who will be on list of major winners with anchored putter; even though legal for them)… – but if anchored stroke is that important to them then perhaps it outweighs that stigma.

But the 2016 effective date allows elite amateurs and college players time to reform and make a good shot at pro tours…

Hopefully PGA Tour does not oppose – and complies with that.

And if Average Joes and Weekend Warriors etc want to use anchored equipment, then they can…so long as it is not in an event conforming with USGA Rules.

By the way, The Ponce will undoubtedly adopt whatever Rules the USGA / R&A enact.

I really don’t care about current pros / Finchem’s argument that there is no data to show competitive advantage of using anchored vs non-anchored…point is, anchored is inherently not a stroke, and juniors etc should not be taught anchoring at outset of learning the game…

The Fountain of Youth Blog – Recent Ponce News

April 10, 2019
Fellow Poncers:
I
have been waiting for a number of months to share this news.
There
is no better time than the eve of the 83rd Masters, and just two days after
UVA’s historic NCAA Basketball Championship.
The
Ponce de … [Read More...]

Chairman - Patrick McManamy
The Ponce returns to its January MLK date for the first time since 2009. The Ponce was held in January for its first seven years from 2003-009.
The site will be announced soon. … [Read More...]

CHAMPIONS,AWARDS, RECORDS AND PLAYER STATS

Each year, the players compete for the Fountain of Youth Cup, MVP trophy, Spirit Award and most recently the Wooden Spoon.

Click here to learn more about who has won these titles, about the records and stats for all players.

ABOUT US

Since 2003, the Ponce De Leon Invitational Golf tournament has taken place annually all over America and once in Europe in Saint Andrews.

“The Ponce” was a story about 16 buddies and set quite a precedent. I’ve always said that The Ponce…and with the competitive format put together by Neil Thomson and his friends, is the type of trip I would like to plan one day for all of my brothers and friends. I do buddies trips, just not at Ponce level.” –Matt Ginella, Travel Editor, Golf Digest (2008)